Art&Seek Jr: 5 Weekend Sneak Peeks At Spring

Art&Seek Jr. is one mom’s quest to find activities to end the seemingly endless chorus of the “I’m Bored Blues” while having fun herself. Impossible, you say? Check back on Tuesdays for kid-friendly events that are fun for adults, too.

Break out the sun block there’s gonna be a heat wave! Well, not really. But we are going to get one of those weekends that make all of our snowbound neighbors to the North green with envy. While another round of snow is likely for them, our forecast calls for sun and balmy temperatures in the 70s.

Even though I’ve lived in Texas since I was a teenager, I still can’t get over the spectacular weather that pops up in the middle of winter. These little respites never last more than a few days, but their appearance is a welcome break from the winter doldrums and a chance to load up on vitamin D.

You never know when this unseasonably warm weather is going to happen–or more to the point, when it’s going to go away, so my advice to you is to get outside, while the gettin’s good. The downside to these warm days is that a doozy of a winter storm always seems to follow within a few weeks.

Here are some picks to help you make your most of your day (or two) in the sun.

Come say hello to Bella the Begonia at BRIT this Saturday. (photo: BRIT)

There’s no better way to get a sneak peek at spring than to spend some time with the official ambassadors of season–butterflies. Take your little flutterflies to Texas Discovery Gardens this Saturday morning for a tour of of the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House. All of your burning questions about the colorful little inspects will be answered by entomologist John Watts as he leads this family friendly guided tour. Be sure to stay for the noon butterfly release.

Enjoy the great outdoors and expose the kids to valuable STEM education while you’re at it when you visit the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (or BRIT, as it’s more commonly known) this Saturday. Once a month BRIT opens its doors for its First Saturday event so the public can take a closer look at all the exciting things going on there. You and the kids can take a self-guided tour of the LEED platinum building, explore the pocket prairie, geology wall, braided gardens, and wetland area. For the wee ones there’s Bella’s Storytime. In case you’re wondering, Bella is a talking Begonia that helps the tinies understand the value that plants bring to life. FYI, while you’re at BRIT be sure to check out the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens too. They’re just a short walk away.

Ever wonder why a woodpecker pecks? Find out this Saturday at the Trinity River Audubon Center when they present Knock-Knock: Woodpeckers 101. Learn all sorts of fascinating facts about this charismatic little bird and then head out on the trail for a close-up look at their homes and their quirky eating habits.

Catch a fish at the Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish in Frisco. (photo: Frisco Parks and Recreation)

Go take a hike–or better yet, take a night hike. That’s right, those warm temperatures predicted on Saturday make it the perfect time to try out the Night Hike at Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area. Follow the guides on a moonlit stroll down the Redbud Trail while you enjoy the sounds of coyotes howling, owls hooting, and armadillos…well, whatever sound armadillos make, on this out-of-the-ordinary hiking experience. No flashlights are necessary. Ages 5 years and up.

Grab your little anglers and head to Frisco Commons Park for Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish. Kids 16 and younger will have first dibs on the 3,000 Rainbow Trout released into the Commons pond. Bring your own fishing gear and bait. Also, there will be no concessions at the park, so bring your own drinks and snacks. Everyone is encouraged to keep what they catch since trout cannot survive when water temperatures rise in the spring. The fun starts at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Adult anglers can join in the fun at 11 a.m., but remember, those 17 and over are required to have a Texas fishing license.

Therese Powell is a KERA producer and calendar coordinator for Art&Seek. She’s a regular contributor to the Art&Seek web site and writes the weekly feature Art&Seek Jr., a guide for family-friendly events and quirky kid adventures in the DFW area. View more about Therese Powell.